Honesty is a virtue that politicians should uphold, wherever they are sitting in the House. When politicians fall short of their electoral pledges, trust in institutions falters. So leaders ought to lead by example. However, some politicians have contributed to tarnishing politics, especially when craftiness and deceit are involved.
For many years, Labour regaled us with sweeping criticism of the previous administration, invariably raising the bar of expectations if it ever was trusted with government. Good governance, sound economic planning, (guaranteed) employment, transparency and inclusion were all on Joseph Muscat’s diary of hits before the election.
A huge majority believed him and Muscat made it to Castille. Too good to be true, some said.
But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and if I can stretch the metaphor, something tells me that the pudding is now rotting.
Muscat swept into office with pomp and circumstance. Elegant pageantry, choreographed ceremonies and lofty statements characterised the new beginning.
Then, as days went by, foreboding started becoming a reality.
In fewer than 48 hours, the Malta tagħna lkoll (Malta for all) mantra was thrown out the window. The principal permanent secretary was unceremoniously sacked and most other permanent secretaries soon followed.
Many civil servants were aghast at such measures at the dawn of what was meant to be a new political season. Appointments that smack of political cronyism have become the order of the day.
Power has become a game of musical chairs, with people from the Labour fold appointed to positions of influence across the board.
Everyone has a right to work but when competence is sacrificed for political patronage, at the taxpayer’s expense, one cringes at horrors yet to come.
Spokes had been put in the wheels of the previous government. Some came from within. Others were triggered by unforeseen events. The collapse of Lehman Brothers, the global recession of 2008 and the Arab Spring of 2010 were cases in point.
Governments around the world had to shelve promises to weather the onslaught.
In Malta, potential setbacks were averted by strong leadership.
Promises were never empty and the island’s economy was left unscathed.
Muscat has had no such threats looming on the horizon. Yet, capital projects are behind schedule and the best (projected) source of revenue, the Individual Investor Programme, was the result of backroom dealings and a huge dose of international embarrassment.
The chickens are coming home to roost for Labour in government
The country has every right to cry foul if it feels misled.
Many initiatives presented in the Budget will not be enjoyed by all. Some segments of society will get some benefits but sound proposals on how employment will be generated and new niches attracted are still missing.
A closer look at the budgetary measures shows that the Maltese will have to shoulder the burden of a multitude of indirect taxes.
Muscat’s pledge to build a new power station was not even given a mention. Considering the magnitude of such a project, it is surprising that this was omitted from a four-hour-long script.
The Prime Minister may argue that the utility prices for families were reduced and those for businesses will be reduced next year.
There is, however, another side to this claim. The reduction in the cost of utilities is being funded by higher prices at the petrol station. International oil prices have plummeted to their lowest levels over the past five years but the price of petrol will only go down by 2c.
Given the present international oil prices, we should be paying about €6 less per week in fuel for our cars. We have not saved that much in utility prices.
People in the south have not been given the medicine they were prescribed prior to the last election. Our “cancer factory” will remain operational, much to the delight of Shanghai Electric, which considers this plant so essential for the future.
One hopes that a life-threatening illness will never be used again for political demagoguery, as has been the case with the people of Marsaxlokk and its environs.
“We are going to raise stipends,” the Minister of Finance read in his Budget Speech to his side’s hysterical elation. So much fanfare for a mere raise of 2c per day. A simple arithmetical exercise would show Sai Mizzi’s salary of €13,000 per month is the equivalent of what 21,428 students will be receiving.
The chickens are coming home to roost for Labour in government. A campaign built on bogus promises led people to believe that Muscat had the silver bullet for everyone’s discontent. Many bought this and many are now unavoidably disappointed.
In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens warns: “Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better rule.”
Muscat will be held at closer scrutiny from now on.
All leaders have a legacy. One wonders what Muscat’s will be if deceit is set to remain a trademark of his tenure in office.
Hermann Schiavone is a PN candidate.